Uhaw (2024) Movie Review – Where to Watch Online
If you’re in search of a movie that pushes the boundaries of love, relationships, and the complexities of human emotions, Uhaw (2024) might be the film for you. Directed and written by Bobby Bonifacio Jr., this Vivamax release dives into the emotional chaos and moral dilemmas of infidelity, female bonding, and rediscovering oneself amidst pain. The movie captures the journey of a wife who learns of her husband’s affair while he’s in a coma, only to find herself developing feelings for his mistress. This Filipino drama isn’t just another melodrama—it’s a striking exploration of complicated relationships, punctuated with music and intense emotion.
Released on September 13, 2024, Uhaw is available for streaming exclusively on Vivamax. In this review, we’ll break down the plot, character dynamics, acting performances, and the cinematography, while guiding you on where to watch it online.
Uhaw (2024) Movie Plot Breakdown
Uhaw tells the story of a woman faced with a tragic realization—her comatose husband had an affair before his accident. In a moment of confrontation with the other woman, instead of finding closure, she finds comfort. What begins as animosity evolves into a surprising bond, and the wife realizes that she is slowly falling for her husband’s mistress. It’s a plot filled with sexual tension, emotional turbulence, and a deep exploration of human desires, both physical and emotional.
However, despite the juicy premise, the film struggles with narrative cohesion. The plot integrates a mix of sub-themes including young love, sexual violence, sapphic relationships, and music, but fails to seamlessly weave them together into a coherent whole. You will find that the scattered elements sometimes overshadow the core story of the wife’s emotional journey.
Acting and Character Dynamics
The film features a stellar cast with Ataska, Itan Rosales, and Angeli Khang in lead roles. However, one of the notable critiques of the movie is the lack of emotional depth in the performances. The central characters are portrayed as being “thirsty” for love, passion, and fulfillment, but these motivations aren’t fully conveyed through the acting. Ataska and Itan Rosales, who play the wife and mistress, respectively, have significant screen time together, but their chemistry feels somewhat forced.
While the characters struggle to convey the emotional weight of their situations, the story remains intriguing enough to keep you invested. Ataska’s portrayal shines particularly in musical segments, where her vocal talent gives depth to scenes that might otherwise feel flat. The songs, such as “Sa Iyong Paggising” and “Di Inibig,” reflect the film’s mood well, though it might leave the audience wanting more from the emotional interactions between the two leads.
Cinematography, Music, and Score
One of Uhaw‘s standout elements is its cinematography. The visuals are polished and manage to elevate the story’s emotional beats. The framing, lighting, and scene composition contribute to an aesthetically pleasing film, even when the narrative feels disjointed. The scoring also plays a vital role in bringing the scenes to life. The musical interludes, particularly the live performances, are a breath of fresh air in an otherwise emotionally restrained movie.
That said, the moments where lip-syncing occurs—especially in the musical performances—can feel jarring. The emotions in the actors’ faces often don’t match the music, breaking the immersion. This could have been avoided if the film had opted for live singing performances, which would have helped ground the emotions more convincingly.
Strengths and Weaknesses of the Film
The film’s core strength lies in its ambitious exploration of relationships, especially the unexpected bond between the two women. It challenges traditional notions of love and loyalty, offering a complex and nuanced look at how people deal with betrayal and personal growth. The script attempts to dive deep into human longing, betrayal, and emotional rediscovery, but it sometimes falters in execution.
Unfortunately, the acting does not always align with the emotional gravity of the story, and the disjointed nature of the various subplots detracts from what could have been a much stronger narrative. The film’s dialogues often feel stilted and forced, lacking the natural flow needed to make the relationships feel real.
Moreover, the film attempts to juggle too many themes at once—young love, prostitution, rape, sapphic relationships, and songwriting—which leaves the viewer unsure of what the movie is trying to prioritize. Focusing on fewer elements might have resulted in a more focused and compelling narrative.
Final Thoughts: Is Uhaw Worth Watching?
Despite its shortcomings, Uhaw still offers enough intrigue to make it worth a watch, especially for fans of Filipino drama. Its exploration of complex human relationships, coupled with its impressive cinematography and scoring, manages to redeem some of its weaker elements. The film may not be perfect, but it presents a daring narrative that tackles infidelity and female bonding in a unique way.
Where to Watch Uhaw (2024) Online
As of now, Uhaw is available for streaming on Vivamax, a popular Filipino streaming service. Unfortunately, the movie is not yet available on other international streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime Video. For viewers in America, subscribing to Vivamax may be the best option to access this film. You can stream Uhaw through the Vivamax app, which is available on both iOS and Android, or via the official Vivamax website.
Vivamax offers a wide range of Filipino films, making it an essential platform for those interested in exploring more of Philippine cinema. The subscription service is reasonably priced and offers access to many other films and shows along with Uhaw.
Conclusion
If you’re searching for a film that delves into the complexities of love, betrayal, and rediscovery, Uhaw (2024) might just quench your thirst. Although the narrative could benefit from stronger acting performances and a more cohesive plot, the film’s bold exploration of human emotions, elevated by its cinematography and musical score, makes it worth watching. Make sure to catch it on Vivamax for the full experience.
